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Last Updated: 04/30/08 15:01
Getting Started with Troop 652
If there's a topic that you'd like to see covered here, please
send a note to scoutmaster troop652bsa.org
The information on this page is the scoutmaster's opinion and has not been
cleared through the committee, the scouts, or anyone else.
|
What
about Troop 652
Uniforms
How
things are done
|
Scout
Gear
Summer Camp |
Administrative
Info
Costs
Typical Event Calendar
|
|
| Who we are - links: Who
We Are Page
Definitions:
 | Charter Organization
(legally
hosted by) |
| Troop |
| Committee |
Troop 652 is primarily chartered St.
Basil the Great parish, located at 8700 Brecksville Rd.,
Brecksville OH 44141. www.basilthegreat.org
We are served by the Greater Cleveland
Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) www.gccbsa.org
located at 2242 Woodland Ave., Cleveland OH 44115 which is on the
corner of E22nd and Woodland Ave. - you can see the building from
the northbound lanes of I-77
The term "primarily" is used
here because we use the St. Basil's Troop identity for registering
the achievements of our scouts - rank advancements, merit badges,
etc. This comes up because we (uniquely) also have a charter
from Hale Farm and Village as described below.
We also
have a charter with Hale Farm and Village, located at 2686 Oak
Hill Road, Bath, OH 44210. Hale
Farm on the Web This Troop 652 is served by the Great
Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) www.gtcbsa.org
located at 1601 S. Main St. Akron. If you need to go there
to drop off a summer camp payment, take 77S to Wilbeth, go west to S. Main,
go north about a block. it's on the northeast corner of S. Main
and Firestone Blvd.
Our goals - links to BSA
Our philosophy - links to reference
material
Link to "Parent
Guide for Selecting a Boy Scout Troop"
Patrol Method and Patrol Leader Roles:
www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/18-800/
Others of interest: All are links off of:
www.scouting.org/nav/boyscout/apubs.html
Fieldbook Companion Site
This Web site is a companion to the BSA's Fieldbook
The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for boys
can be carried on. It is the only method.'" —Lord
Baden-Powell, Scouting's founder
The Patrol
The patrol is a group of Scouts who belong to a troop and who
are probably similar in age, development, and interests. The
patrol method allows Scouts to interact in a small group outside
the larger troop context, working together as a team and sharing
the responsibility of making their patrol a success. A patrol
takes pride in its identity, and the members strive to make their
patrol the best it can be. Patrols will sometimes join with other
patrols to learn skills and complete advancement requirements. At
other times they will compete against those same patrols in Scout
skills and athletic competitions.
Note: You may see references elsewhere on the site about
these competitions:
| "Camporee" events - these are
District-wide games of scout skills (dozens of scouts) |
| "Camporall" events - Council-wide events for
all Districts (hundreds of scouts) |
| "Klondike" events - similar to a Camporee but
in the winter with special Sleds. |
The members of each patrol elect one of their own to serve as
patrol leader. The troop determines the requirements for patrol
leaders, such as rank and age. To give more youths the opportunity
to lead, most troops elect patrol leaders twice a year. Some may
have elections more often.
Patrol size depends upon a troop's enrollment and the needs of
its members, though an ideal patrol size is eight Scouts. Patrols
with fewer than eight Scouts should try to recruit new members to
get their patrol size up to the ideal number.
Types of Patrols
There are three kinds of patrols: new-Scout patrols, regular
patrols, and Venture patrols.
1 New-Scout patrols are for 11-year-old Scouts who have
recently joined the troop and are together for the first year in
the troop. An older, experienced Scout often is assigned as a
Troop Guide to help the new-Scout patrol through the challenges of
troop membership. An assistant Scoutmaster should also assist the
new-Scout patrol to ensure that each Scout has every opportunity
to succeed right from the start.
2 Regular patrols are made up of Scouts who have completed
or near completing their First Class requirements. They have been around Scouting
long enough to be comfortable with the patrol and troop operation
and are well-versed in camping, cooking, and Scouting's other
basic skills.
3 A Venture patrol is an optional patrol within the troop made
up of Scouts age 13 and older. These troop members have the
maturity and experience to take part in more challenging
high-adventure outings. The Venture patrol elects a patrol leader,
who works with an assistant Scoutmaster to put the patrol's plans
into action.
|
| June 11, 2005
Latest Rev of the Proposed
Outings List is available. (Click
Here or Right-Click & Save-As...) |
| See
the Publications Section
for Current and Back-Issue
Newsletters |
|
|
To the Scout the uniform is an outward sign that he believes in certain values and is willing to stand up for them.
(from www.gtcbsa.org)
There are 2 "classes" of
uniform in the troop. The troop has introduced some minor variations
from the BSA standard for our own use.
| Class A (BSA). As described in the
handbook and on Uniform Inspection sheets.
When a scout attends one of the BSA functions requiring a Class A
uniform (formal functions, National Camps & travel, etc.), this is
it. There are standards established for adult men, adult women,
and scouts. |
| Class A (Troop). As described
below.
A variation of the official Class A intended to provide a uniform
appearance at a reasonable cost with an added shoulder treatment. |
| Class B. Class B means a some
type of "scout" shirt like a scout-logo'd shirt. Some
functions may have specific requirements. E.G. Camp staff wears
the camp t-shirt or polo. |
| Class B (Troop).
The troop has a standard Class B T-shirt design which is available
from a local retailer at a reasonable price. Scouts and Adults
should wear the Class B shirt for specific events. |
The Class A Troop uniform elements are
described below.
| Item |
Uniform Policy |
Official
BSA |
Comments |
| Shirt |
BSA Boy Scout Shirt |
Yes |
BSA Dark Green Venturing shirt OK for
troop. |
Shoulder
Loops |
Red Loops |
Yes |
Troop provided at 1st registration. Dark Green Venturing loops OK for troop. |
| Neckerchief |
Black with red embroidery |
Yes |
Troop provided at 1st registration. Neckerchiefs earned by scouts may be worn. (Eagle
rank, special events, etc.) |
| Slide |
Black Boy Scout Slide |
Yes |
Troop provided at 1st registration. Slide made by the scout is allowed. Common practice
is to fashion a slide from a piece of the red cord we use for our
shoulder cord. |
| Belt |
Boy Scout belt |
Yes |
Leave the buckle side long enough for growth
through the teen years. |
| Pants |
Green |
No |
BSA pants are not required by the troop. |
| Shoulder Cord |
Red utility cord, 15-30 ft., braided &
looped, worn on Right Shoulder under epaulet. |
No |
The troop provides this rope. The Junior
Leaders started this in 2004 so that each scout would have rope
and it has stayed with us.
The color matches the shoulder loops, it's rated for significant
loads and can be useful at camps and in survival situations,
and each patrol can assemble a rescue line using it. |
| Socks |
|
|
(I forgot whether the committee chose to go with
BSA socks or not. I'll have to check the meeting
minutes.) |
| Shoes |
Dark Shoes |
No |
|
| Sash |
BSA sash |
Yes |
Troop provided at reaching "Scout
Rank". The Order of the Arrow sash may be worn instead
of the merit badge sash. |
Troop leaders establish uniform requirements
for specific events. In cases where others (National, Council,
District, Event Organizers, other units, etc.) indicate uniform
policies, they will be communicated to the troop through the leaders.
Some standard uniform guidelines are listed
below:
| At Troop meetings, the "Troop Class
A" is required to participate. Scouts who arrive without
the proper uniform can stay at the meeting but can not participate
unless approved by the Senior Patrol Leader. |
| Service to the Charter Organizations
require Class A uniforms for duties where we're in the public
eye. Class B shirts may be worn for setup & cleanup. |
| Outdoor meetings may be designated as Class
B uniform events. |
| On campouts, we arrive at camp in our Class
A shirt. |
| On campouts, we wear the Class A shirt for
dinner. |
| At Summer Camp, camp rules require Class A
shirt for dinner. |
|
| Parents do not sign-off
requirements in their sons' Boy Scout Handbooks. The Scoutmaster is
responsible for seeing that the skills and progress meet troop standards
but the authority to sign-off requirements can be delegated.
In our troop, Assistant Scoutmasters, Junior
Assistant Scoutmasters, all Eagle Scouts (adults or youth) registered with
the troop, the Troop Guide, and the
Senior Patrol Leader
have standing
authority to sign off on requirements for ranks up to and including 1st
Class. Other scouts may be given authority to sign off on specific
requirements where they have demonstrated their proficiency in the skill.
How we operate - Committee does, Scoutmaster
does, Junior Leaders
Patrol Boxes/Troop Equipment
We enter the 21st Century.
We are making progress in moving our troop administration and
communications online. As families and scouts have multiple email
addresses, we find that mail accounts will no longer send mail to as many
addresses as we have to support. Our web provider service includes a
mailing list feature which we use to list all email addresses for use by
anyone on the list to communicate with everyone else on the list.
That is, if your account is on the mailing list, you can send a message to
the mailing list from that account.
A disadvantage of using the list is that you won't necessarily have
an individual email address that you might want to contact someone
directly without sending to the whole list. The Troop roster lists
at least one email address for each of the families, however.
The web site and mailing list are currently maintained by the
scoutmaster. Not because it's in the scoutmaster's position
description to do so, but because the current scoutmaster was previously
the Troop Secretary (ca. 1999) and took over maintenance of the troop web
site as part of that position. Through the years, we learned that
close communication between the Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, Senior
Patrol Leader, and web site administrator was essential to keeping things
up to date. The current situation works because of the history and
skill sets of the people involved but we're open to having it move back to
the Secretary duties.
In the past, we have used printed newsletters
to communicate plans and results to scouts and families. The
advantage was that scouts had a printed record of the troop activities
that they could keep as part of their scout record detailing which
campouts and activities they attended and parents could see how their
scout was doing and view the troop schedule for reconciliation with their
family plans. Many of the old newsletters are available online to
serve as a record of scout and troop activities. As a matter of
policy, they're encrypted because names, phone numbers and email addresses
should not be made public. See the Publications
Section for Back-Issues of
Newsletters. www.troop652bsa.org/publications |
|
See scout handbook for lists of recommended.
See summer camp manual in the Publications
section for lists
Mess Kit tips;
| Typical scout menus often include soup, potatoes,
ground or chunk beef, stews, and the like with hot and/or cold
drinks. Scouts usually set the menu for themselves/their patrols
and the cooking usually gets more involved as their cooking skills
grow and they see what others enjoy making and eating. |
| The "Patrol Box" (described
below) has plates for the patrol for many campouts but not utensils or
cups. A "mess kit" is needed for those campouts when
we're not using the Patrol Box. Utensils and a re-usable cup are
important. |
| Aluminum or stainless mess kits from local
stores work. Get one that includes a cup, a bowl, and something
which can be used as a plate.
 | Coleman, TekSport and others make some
aluminum ones for less than $10. Stainless adds $5-$10 to
the price. |
| Some Sporting goods and outfitter shops
will have the Nester stainless mess kit for about $15 - it's
bigger than the Coleman/Teksport kits - the material is thinner
but adequate. |
|
| Metal plates/pots/bowls get hot when they
have hot food in/on them. Check that the kits you're considering
have handles that can be used to hold the item while you're eating. |
| Clean & sterilize them after they've been used on an
outing. |
| Need knife/fork/spoon too.
| There's a chain ring with a set of
small stainless K/F/S on it which is popular because it sometimes
fits inside the mess kit. If the set doesn't fit in the mess
kit, the small size can be a slight disadvantage. |
| There's a few metal and plastic
"set" brands that work well - they're full sized. |
| Taking a k/f/s from an old house set
works too. |
|
| Whether your kit has a stuff sack or not,
keep it all in a gallon-sized ziplock with your name on it.
Besides keeping it together, it will help keep it clean and
usable. |
| Scouts won't need their own
stoves. The patrol boxes have large 2-burner propane
stoves and the troop has a few "backpacking" type stoves for
use in outings and for training scouts in the use of the stoves as
part of their 1st Class rank requirements. |
Water Bottle;
| Whatever you have will be good enough to
start with. |
| Eventually, you'll end up with a
quart-sized, wide-mouth lexan bottle of some brand or another.
Nalgene started the market but Target and others have other
brands. They're between $5 and $10, mostly depending on where
you're shopping. |
Sleeping Bag tips.
| We camp year-round, including the winter
months. If you'll be getting only one bag, get a zero-degree
rated bag. Don't spend lots on a scouts' first bag unless
they've already demonstrated that they will read and follow the
"usage and care" instructions. For additional cost,
you get lighter weight and more compression (packs smaller). a
mummy style bag will be more efficient and lighter than a comparable
rectangular bag. |
| Slumberjack and Coleman have inexpensive
models suitable for scout use. Coleman bags are often available
at places like Wal-Mart, Target, or Kmart as well as sporting goods
stores and on-line. Slumberjack bags are available at local
sporting goods stores (Gander Mountain, for sure, Dicks has them
sometimes, MC Sports has some models), outfitter type stores, and
on-line. Check out the lineup at Campmor
Sleeping Bag section. |
| Inexpensive zero-degree rated bags will
weigh more than 5 pounds because they use more of an inexpensive insulating
material. More expensive bags use lighter weight materials like
Polarguard or down which allows for bags about 3-4 pounds. |
| Avoid down bags. Down does not
insulate when it is wet and it takes a long time to dry. Its
advantage is that it's very light weight and very compressible.
Stick with synthetics. |
Cots.
| Cots are recommended for summer camp but
are not required. If you can buy or borrow one for Summer Camp,
you'll sleep better and enjoy camp more. Summer camp uses wall
tents with wooden platforms to keep stuff off the ground. Cots
make for comfortable sleeping and gets you off the floor and away from
crawly things.
In years past, we borrowed cots from the Red Cross for our week at
summer camp but as the cots got older, it was harder to find ones that
didn't have stains on them which spooked the scouts. If you
watch the Dick's and MC Sporting goods ads, you'll find pretty good
cots for $19 instead of their usual $25-29 price.
Some scouts bring cots on weekend campouts but they're heavier and
less convenient than a foam pad. |
| There are basically two types of cots -
relating to the cot legs. X-Leg and D-Leg (rotate the D 90
degrees to the right for a better picture of the
leg).
Make a table
Some styles fold up smaller than the ones which just fold in half.
The X-Leg ones shouldn't be used
in a regular floored tent because the legs can push holes into the
floor of the tent. The D-legged styles are easier on troop tent floors.
If the cot will be used only for summer camp, you can get the D-leg
ones that fold in half because you won't be hauling it around on other
campouts. |
| Get a foam pad whether you get a cot or not
because eventually, you'll be sleeping on the ground in a tent. |
Do I need a backpack?
| Not for summer camp. Maybe not until
after summer camp. They can be convenient in that there's gear
that can just stay in the pack - which makes it less likely that some
important item will be left behind. |
| For summer camp, they're not the best way
of keeping things clean, dry, and organized. A footlocker type
storage container is best. |
Compass
"Know yourself" is key in selecting
your "first serious compass". Some are better off starting
with the least expensive compass and replacing it when it gets lost or
damaged with a similar or better compass. Some are better off with a
more expensive compass which will serve for years. Either way, read
the directions.
| The compass needs to serve 2
purposes: finding directions while hiking, map work: orienting
and route planning. Until recently, compasses which were good at
both were rare and expensive. |
| A decent, inexpensive "starter"
compass for scouts is the Silva Starter Type 1-2-3 Compass
($10) which can be used for simple map work and can be used in the
field. It's widely available. |
| Cliff recommends the Silva
Trekker at Campmor.com ($20 - $27) which functions as a
"map" compass like the Silva Starter Type 1-2-3 Compass
($10) as well as an orienteering compass like a Lensatic
Compass ($8). The Silva Trekker is also available at local
stores: sometimes at Dick's or MC, usually at Gander Mountain and Appalachian
Outfitters. |
The fluid in most compasses "damps"
the movement of the needle so that bearings can be read quickly. If
the compass is repeatedly subjected to freezing temperatures, the fluid
can leak out.
Knife
| Sheathe knives are not allowed on
scout reservations. They're not "scout knives". |
| Lowe's sometimes has "swiss army"
style knives available at 1 (or 2-packs) for $10-17 for the same knife that
would cost $24-40 at a sporting goods store or outfitter. |
| Scouts aren't allowed to carry a knife at
scouting events until they have been trained in safety procedures and
earned their "Totin' Chit". Each minor infraction of
safety rules or incident/accident with "sharps" will cost a
scout or adult a corner or their "chit". When the
corners are gone, the Chit is revoked and the training must be
repeated to earn a new card. A major incident/Accident will be
grounds for immediately revoking the chit. |
Boots & Socks
| Good socks are important and a
cost-effective solution to many boot/shoe problems. |
| Smartwool and similar high-tech wool socks
can help cushion feet and keep them dry. "Hiking" weight is
suitable for most of the year |
| Cotton socks are only useful for wearing
around camp while the better socks are drying/airing. Wet
socks and shoes and related foot problems are the most common
"Health Lodge" problem at Summer Camp - even when there's no
rain! (Morning Dew on the grass). |
Tent
| Troop will issue you a tent which matches the
rest of the tents. Leaders or special needs tents are permitted.
The scout is responsible for keeping the tent in good working
condition and "complete". Normal wear and tear is
expected but lost or broken poles, stakes, rain fly, etc. will be the
scout's responsibility to fix, repair, or replace. |
| Avoid bringing your own tent on regular
troop campouts - especially if it's a good tent. Scouts learn a
great deal though their own and others' mistakes so don't let someone
learn proper procedures for fires or bug repellent use by seeing what
happens to your expensive tent when the mistake is made. |
Bug repellant
| Summer Camp requires a lotion instead of a pump or spray in order
to protect the tents. |
| DEET is very effective but it melts plastic. (Personal
note: I've melted my fingerprints into my watch face with DEET.)
Don't buy anything with more than 20% DEET unless you're going
someplace special (back woods, high adventure) where bug bites could
be a survival issue. |
| There are sometimes new high-tech chemicals developed for bug
repellant. No problems with trying them on local campouts
because someone else will likely be willing to share their
tried-and-true repellant if your new stuff doesn't work well
enough. |
| There are also sprays and washes which treat clothing. I
think they're effective but I am usually a bug magnet. |
Miscellaneous
| Hats are useful. You probably have all you need for winter
camping. Some scouts get by with baseball cap style hats for
summer camp but a hat with a brim on the back and sides offers better
comfort and protection from the sun.
Only scout hats may be worn at meetings. |
Boots
| Boots are important and expensive and scouts sometimes outgrow
their boots multiple times in a year. Get what you can afford
that offers support and protection.
Eventually, you'll have waterproof boots that fit well and protect
your feet under backpack-weight loads when combined with the proper
socks, but boots like that are in the $100 range so don't expect them
until you've slowed your growth to a single shoe size for more than 1
year.
In the meanwhile, get affordable boots that feel good and get some
good socks that wick moisture, cushion your feet, and keep your feet
warm even when they're wet.
|
| Don't expect to make it through summer camp wearing only athletic
shoes (tennis shoes). Our camp site is the farthest one from the
Dining Hall (3 trips per day), plus lots of other walking around camp
and all of it is on gravel roads or uneven paths.
In the morning, the dew will soak your shoes, if it rains during the
week, the wet grass and mud will soak your shoes.
Bring a pair of boots - the summer camp manual calls for them but I
haven't seen anyone sent away because they didn't have them.
Every year at the "Adult Leader" meetings, we Scoutmasters
get lectured about bringing scouts to camp without proper
footwear.
Bring a pair of shoes for wearing around camp in the evenings while
your boots dry out or "air out". |
See the section of Patrol Boxes/Troop
equipment
As soon as we know whether any more scouts
will be joining from local Packs, we schedule a scout/parent meeting to go
over what scouts should be doing in their 1st year with the troop, the
importance of Summer Camp, and equipment/gear recommendations.
If
there's a birthday coming up sooner than that and you need gift ideas, I
can offer some ideas on sox, compasses, bug repellent, boots & water
bottles.
There's a discussion or suitable scout camping gear from other
troops and/or areas. Note that this stuff is all opinion which may
be different than yours or mine and some of it is old.
Shopping:
| Appalachian Outfitters and Gander Mountain
offer 10%
off when you show a scout membership card. Use your Cub membership card until you get your Boy Scout
card.
|
| There's a "RV" place on Rt 8 where
it intersects Truxell (Near Appalachian Outfitters) that stocks BSA
uniform and supplies. I'll get the name and post it when I do. |
| Both the Cleveland and Akron Scout Shops
have scout uniforms and supplies. The Cleveland Scout shop is a
bit bigger and often has more "gear". |
|
| The Goal for the first year is to
join in the fun, make new friends, and learn the scouting skills needed to
earn the rank of 1st Class. "Making" 1st Class rank
should take about a year if everyone is diligent about getting the
requirements done. We've had scouts do it in less than a year
(barely) and some who've taken 3 years or more to make 1st Class.
The length of time it took was not necessarily key to their longevity or
success in the program, longer term.
Taking a long time to reach 1st Class is
thought, by some, to indicate something about the scouts' interest and
motivation. I don't agree. I've seen as many cases where the
troop program plans had as much to do with it as the scouts' interest and
motivation. Also, some scouts are driven to set goals and
achieve them at an earlier age than others. Sometimes it's simply a
case where some of the requirements for 2nd Class, and 1st Class are done
as part of the Swimming Merit Badge which many scouts get at their 1st or
2nd Summer Camp but are generally not part of the Troop program.
The requirements are set up to take about a
year or at least "a years' worth of scouting activities". We
take "about a year" as a goal so that the requirements can be
met without "being in a hurry" or detracting from the fun.
The Junior Leaders
(link to definition) and
the individual scouts can arrange training and outings for scouts to make
1st Class but sometimes illness or family or school schedules can cause a
scout to miss the outing or troop meeting where the requirements are
taught or tested. Some examples where scheduling opportunities and
attendance play a big part are listed below. The list
| plan and cook a breakfast and lunch on a
campout on a fire that he built, |
| Plan and cook meals for the patrol |
| 5 mile hike with map & compass |
| 1 mile orienteering course |
| attend 10 non-meeting troop events. |
New Boy Scouts should be working toward Scout
Rank, this requires a basic knowledge of what it means to be a Boy
Scout. The most common delay factor here is the youth protection
stuff in the front of the book which has to be covered with a parent or
guardian. It's not that the material is a problem, it's just
commonly overlooked that the scout can't finish the requirements on his
own.
The Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class
requirements can be worked on simultaneously.
The Tenderfoot requirements will be covered as part of the troop
program but motivated scouts can arrange with their Patrol Leader, Troop
Guide, or Senior Patrol Leader to be tested on the skills as soon as they
are ready. |
| Registration, $33 or $43 |
|
Summer Camp, $190? (early-bird, Great Trail only) - $210
|
|
Weekend outings, $7-20
|
|
Fund raisers, Brecksville Home Days pop/water sale funds troop (last
weekend in June). Popcorn sale (Fall) funds the "Scout
account" (not troop)
|
Tinnerman, Philmont, Northern Tier, SeaBase, $550-1100.
Airfare/travel/hotel is the difference.
|
|
Uniforms, See www.scoutstuff.org
Class B T-shirt, less than $10, check archives for details on
how/where
|
|
Provided: Book, loops, neckerchief, slide, red cord, tent, sash at
Scout rank |
|
The Troop plans activities for every month of the year. This is the
typical annual camping and outdoor activities for the Troop.
|
January: Klondike - winter camping with scout skills competition with other
troops in the area.
February: Winter Camp - possibly with a cabin available.
March: Father-Son to get new scouts who've joined from a cub scout pack to
"warm up" to being with the troop. Usually with a cabin
available.
April: skills camp. Possible Special event camp. Caving,
canoeing, survival skills instructor, etc.
May: Skills Camp. Possible Special Event Camp. Caving, canoeing,
survival skills instructor, etc.
June Summer Camp, Brecksville "Homecoming" work. St. Basil
Parish Picnic
July: "Away Camp". high adventure camp and/or second summer
camp
August: "Away Camp", Hale Farm Civil War Reenactment
September: Skills Camp, hike
October: Leadership Training Camp, St. Basil Parish "Fall Fest"
and Hale Farm "Harvest Fest" service
November Skills or Special Event
December Indoor activity with festivities: indoor climbing, swimming, etc.
|
|
Boy Scout Troop 652 